Impact of land use and vegetation cover on risks of erosion in the Ourika Watershed (Morocco)

Date

2016

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

AJER

Abstract

Results of mapping demonstrated significant erosion in the Ourika watershed. Soil loss below the tolerance level (<7 t/ha/year) represented only 4% of the area. The objective was to map the risks of water erosion using the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) and GIS, and highlight the role of land use and vegetation cover in regulation for risks of erosion. Dense forests, moderately dense forests and arboriculture not mixed with cereal growing protected the soil against erosion, improved physical and chemical soil characteristics, facilitated the infiltration of water into the soil, and limited runoff and the risk of erosion.

Description

Keywords

WATER EROSION, RUSLE, GIS, OURIKA, WATERSHED, MOROCCO

Citation

Modeste, M., Abdellatif, K., Nadia, M., & Zhang, H. (2016). Impact of Land Use and Vegetation Cover on Risks of Erosion in the Ourika Watershed (Morocco). American Journal of Engineering Research, 5(9), 75-82.

DOI